BVAS Failure Disenfranchises Four Female Voters in Ekiti Election
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) failed to verify the faces of some voters during Saturday's off-cycle governorship election in Ekiti State, leaving four women unable to cast their ballots. PREMIUM TIMES observed the incident at a polling unit in Osagburu/Hall Oke oloti, Ward 3, Ikere Ekiti, in Okere Ekiti Local Government Area. The BVAS device, which uses facial and fingerprint recognition, repeatedly rejected scans even after multiple attempts, forcing the voters to leave without voting.
Long Queues and Delays
PREMIUM TIMES observed a long queue at the polling unit, with voters still waiting to cast their votes as of 4:20 p.m. The delays were partly attributed to the BVAS failures, which slowed down the accreditation process. The affected voters expressed frustration and sadness over the situation.
Voices of the Disenfranchised
Florence Onipede, an 86-year-old retired teacher, said she arrived at the polling unit around 8 a.m. but could not vote because the BVAS failed to capture her face. "They tried it about two times or more. I wasn't happy at all. I stayed next to the Oluyedes (PDP governorship candidate) and have been here since morning," she told PREMIUM TIMES. Mrs. Onipede described the development as "surprising" since she had voted successfully in the same area before. "They said I should stand and take picture and they said it cannot be taken. This is my second time of voting here. What I experience today is a surprise. My name is on their list but they didn't give me the ballot paper to vote," she added.
Iyabo Olowofela, another prospective voter, also faced the same issue. "I could not vote. They could not capture my face and I did not thumbprint. I have been here before 9 am. I'm not happy with this development," she said. The elderly woman noted that electoral officers attempted the facial capture four times but it still failed. "They have tried it four times. This is the first time I would experience such," Mrs. Olowofela said.
Funmilayo Idowu, 56, a resident who came out to vote, said she washed her face with water two times after the first failed attempt. "They tried it three times," Mrs. Idowu said. "I will have to go home. I don't know what to do now. This has made me sad." The supervising polling officer, identified as Adamu, told PREMIUM TIMES that Mrs. Idowu's face did not match the facial data on the BVAS. "The face doesn't match. She should go for revalidation," the officer said.
Impact on Voter Turnout
The BVAS failures highlight ongoing challenges with Nigeria's electoral technology. The affected voters were unable to exercise their democratic rights, raising concerns about the reliability of the accreditation system. The incident occurred during the Ekiti State governorship election, which saw high voter turnout in some areas despite technical glitches.
